Radio Atlantic, IA – AM 1220

4 killed, 1 hurt in Union County crash Wednesday afternoon

May 24th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Four people – three from Illinois and one from Iowa – were killed, and one person was injured during a head-on collision Wednesday afternoon in southwest Iowa’s Union County. The Iowa State Patrol says the accident happened on Highway 34, about two-miles east of Thayer, at around 2:37-p.m. According to the Patrol’s report, a 2002 Chevy S-10 pickup driven by 44-year old Laura Hileman-Dyson, of Murray, was eastbound on Highway 34 when it crossed the center line of the road.

A westbound 2011 Nissan Altima, driven by 31-year old Jessica Jackson, of Chicago, Il, took evasive action by veering into the eastbound lane, but the Hileman-Dyson corrected her vehicle at the same time, veering back into the eastbound lane. Both drivers then tried to take evasive action again, but their vehicles collided head-on in the westbound lane of traffic.

Jackon, and two people in her car were killed, including 28-year old Mertis Harris and 35-year old Kenya Ervin, both of Chicago. A passenger in Hileman-Dyson’s pickup, 44-year old Randall Dyson, also died in the crash. Neither he nor Harris were wearing a seat belt. Harris died after being flown from the scene by LifeNet Helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. Laura Hileman-Dyson, who was also not wearing a seat belt, was also flown by LifeNet to Methodist Hospital. A report on her condition was not available early this (Thursday) morning.